The Story of the Last Empress of China - Imperial Woman

Excellent book by a classic author. Beautifully written from the perspective of a person who lived and studied in China. I love stories about strong female leaders and this book is about an Empress in China, someone who was not born to nobility, but rose to the rank of a supreme ruler in China through her strength and intelligence.

Great read..A good insight into the structure of the old China set up and their class system and segregation of women. Thank goodness they have moved on.I love history and historical content. Throwing in some romance is always a great read. Painted the picture very well.A good mix of history
and some fictional imagination.

Just finished reading book last night. I enjoyed the book very much but found that it was a slow read because it was rich with culture that I was not familiar with. Buck wrote about a county and culture that she loved and it came through in her writing. Not a beach read, but a read well worth the time.

Not her best work. It covers a very interesting time in Chinese history but the focus is almost entirely on court politics and the relationship with the concubines and eunuchs surrounding the next to the last emporor. It was a hard read for me.

Pearl Buck and her Empress enthralled me again! I have read this book many times in paper back, but never on a Kindle. So just had to have it to read again. Beautiful writing, character building, setting, on and on.... Now I can read it again sometime in the future without needing to find it in PB form.

Pearl S. Buck delivers with a promise to keep you locked into the characters until you can't see.or the need to extricate yourself for nourishment pulls you from it. It seems that this character, the Imperial Woman was born smarter, stronger and fiercer than any other young ladies of her time. Good read!

Delicious epic account of the life of the last Chinese empress. Gave tremendous insight into the daily life of royalty in China, the perks, perils, and sacrifices made to hold that lofty position. Made me wonder how similar the royal life is in other countries. If you like historical fiction, you'll love this!

This story is fascinating. Although it is very long, it holds your interest all the way through. It takes you to such beautiful places and so much history is involved. Anyone who loves her books know she draws you in and keeps you there into the very end! I'm ready to read more of her books!!

This was another excellent book from Pearl Buck. Not as her award winning "The Good Earth" but awesome none-the-less. I would recommend it to anyone who is remotely interested in Chinese history as it is set in the time of the take-over from the dynasty world to the more modern world.

I enjoyed reading about all the customs and feelings that the Chinese of that period experienced. The viewpoint was from the Royal family, and it gave the reader a glimpse of the loneliness and responsibilities. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and now want to read her other novels.

Historical novel, gave insight to complicated times and created a marvelously strong and yet loving character. You come away recognizing how strong and sometimes cruel she could be but understanding where it comes from makes all the difference.
I enjoyed it tremendously. Excellent read.

The daughter did a good job of publishing the last Pearl S. Buck manuscript. She told the story or added to the story with such a glimpse into the people and customs of that time in history and I am sure Mrs. Buck is pleased and proud. peach melba

I found this book very well written, but what would you expect from Pearl Buck. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I found some of her descriptions a bit tedious, easy skipped and soon the plot move on. Such knowledge of China and the royal person, it is very enjoyable.

Have gotten interested in reading Pearl Buck's books again. I read most of them as a teenager many, many years ago. I found this book as interesting as back then and probably understood it better. What a great writer Pearl Buck was and a master of description and capturing the feelings and ambience of the times.

The Last Empress of China could be sweet and kind, then change within a sentence and become so empty and cruel hearted. All that crossed her and under estimated her craftiness paid dearly with her severe wrath. This was not just about a woman with great strength and power. It held a a sad love story within it. Read this book!

I loved the book and detested the empress. The challenges of the changing times, the political necessities, the need for personal power and loneliness create a matrix of suspense. The book has the feel of truth and insight and I had to remind myself that these were things that the author imagined, since she was unlikely to have had access to the last empress of China.

I was interested in this book, actually when I bought it I thought it was a non-fiction work. I however could not finish it. It was so long winded that I eventually lost interest in the subject. I gave it three stars because the information was in detail, and you could tell the author had done her research.

I enjoyed this story. There was a lot of history and a peek behind the culture. The main character was intriguing and following her life and the decisions she made made the story interesting. My only complaint was it was a little long. I would recommend it.

I love reading about China and I was introduced to Pear Buck when I was in my 20s. I thought I had read every book about China she had ever written but somehow I missed this gem. Again, this lady knows China and she knows how to tell a good story and keep your attention. I couldn't give it any less than 5 stars!

A trip to China was the impetus to reread Imperial Woman. It was a perfect companion to get a feel for the long and fabulous history of China. I had forgotten what a wonderful storyteller Pearl Buck was.

Well written fiction, perhaps partially true, of a China that existed from about 1852 for many years. The mistrust of foreign nations was clear. Great treasures passed on by the Manchu dynasty were described. A great love, a tremendous power, and Chinese customs filled the pages.

Buck's writing style is soothing and she paints a grand picture of a time and place readers now will never know. An ancient empire before the great upheaval of communism. The grace of a woman who knew what she wanted and had the ambition and common sense to achieve it. Wonderful story!

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It is such a pleasure to read a well written novel. Following the Imperial Woman from a young woman to her maturity was a pleasure. The book also gave a great picture of the Chinese culture.

Well written fiction, perhaps partially true, of a China that existed from about 1852 for many years. The mistrust of foreign nations was clear. Great treasures passed on by the Manchu dynasty were described. A great love, a tremendous power, and Chinese customs filled the pages.

Buck's writing style is soothing and she paints a grand picture of a time and place readers now will never know. An ancient empire before the great upheaval of communism. The grace of a woman who knew what she wanted and had the ambition and common sense to achieve it. Wonderful story!

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It is such a pleasure to read a well written novel. Following the Imperial Woman from a young woman to her maturity was a pleasure. The book also gave a great picture of the Chinese culture.

Interesting portrayal of the last of China's Empresses. Sensitively written in only Pearl Buck's touching ways and experiences and love for all things Chinese. Once committed I couldn't put it down. Provides great insights.

Pearl Buck has written a winner. She paints a clear picture of a woman drawn to power. Along the way the reader learns many Chinese customs embedded in this historical novel. The characters and settings are vividly described which creates a greater understanding of this historical fiction novel.

I accepted her mission & she preformed it well. I, myself, would not go there, so.... I really enjoyed this woman's journey. The usual wonderous Pearl Buck writing. She keeps us on edge through out the book. What a great look into the past of China.

This book is well-written and holds your interest all the way through. It follows the life of the Empress from the childhood loss of her father to the loss of the love of her life, her Emperor husband, her Emperor son and her Emperor nephew, with all the twists and turns throughout. An excellent read.

You can't rush through the beautiful prose in this wonderful story. Neither can you rush past the Chinese people in it with their intrigues, secrets and superstitions. I look forward to reading more of this inspiring woman's work

Pearl Buck was so knowledgeable about China , she knew the language and all the customs of all the various provinces in China She describes the various palaces as if she were there and most important the domination of the last empress with magical skills I enjoyed every moment of the book

Pearl's highly descriptive writing of the life of China's last Empress is an excellent, engaging read. Buck, with her research and personal experience living in China, presents a side of the Empress not usually seen.

This book provides compelling insight into the China of the last quarter of the 19th century. The woman who becomes the last empress is strong and complex, and Buck paints an unstinting picture of her kindness and cruelty but most of all her determination to protect and preserve her country.

I found reading about China very interesting. Could it really have been like that? The book is long, but I never looked to see how much more I had to read. She was a most interesting and amazing woman. I don't know if this a true story or not, but I would like to believe she really did rule China at one time.